Dengue virus replication

The dengue virus attaches to the surface of a host cell and enters the cell by a process called endocytosis. Once deep inside the cell, the virus fuses with the endosomal membrane and is released into the cytoplasm. The virus particle comes apart, releasing the viral genome. The viral RNA (vRNA) is translated into a single polypeptide that is cut into ten proteins, and the viral genome is replicated. Virus assembly occurs on the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) when the structural proteins and newly synthesized RNA bud out from the ER. The immature viral particles are transported through the trans-Golgi network (TGN), where they mature and convert to their infectious form. The mature viruses are then released from the cell and can go on to infect other cells.